Andrew
Abbott

2021 MLB Draft: The 6-foot, 175-pound Abbott was a highly-effective reliever for the Cavaliers prior to 2021 and fit as a third-round pick last year. He went unselected, but shifted to the rotation this spring and pushed himself into first-round consideration. He has a quick-hop fastball that is a lively 91-95 and gets swings and misses on its own. Its movement is location driven, showing tailing action to his arm side, a steep attack angle when down in the zone, and riding life up in it. He complements that with a hard-breaking 78-80 curveball that is plus. He can manipulate its shape and speed, going from a 12/6 breaker to more slurve shape. Abbott can also mix in a deceptive and darting changeup that is a firm 85-86. He tunnels all three pitches extremely well.

The 6-foot, 175-pound senior lefty tossed 7.1 innings, walked two and struck out a career-high 16 in a perfect storm matchup which pitted Abbott, who can spot his quick-hop fastball up in the zone, against the grip and lift approaches found up and down the Demon Deacons’ lineup. Working as quickly as his pitch-call wristband would allow, Abbott was electrifying from the start, striking out eight of the first nine batters he faced. All eight were swinging strikeouts, seven via his lively 91-95 mph fastball and the eighth courtesy of his hard-breaking 78-80 mph curveball. Abbott can manipulate the shape and speed of his breaker from 12/6 to more slurve-shape, but mainly lives off of his heater. Its movement is location driven, showing tailing action to his arm side, a steep attack angle when down in the zone and riding life up in the zone. Based on his arm slot and a slightly across body landing, Abbott’s fastball up in the zone should have more run, compared to others with similar modus operandi, but instead it stays true and confuses hitters’ eyes. Abbott blitzed the Deacons with his No. 1 for repeated swing/miss. The first ball put in play didn’t come until the last batter of the third inning when Lucas Costello popped out harmlessly to second base on a changeup. Abbott also mixed in another deceptive, darting changeup that caught Chris Lanzilli looking at strike three for the last out in the fourth. Although a bit firm at 85-86 mph, Abbott’s change-of-pace is lower-spin (1600-1700s) and thrown out of a nearly identical release point to both his fastball and curve. He tunnels all three pitches extremely well, creating late action which was easily inside of the 24’ tunnel point from home plate. This spot is a key to creating swing/miss as it’s the latest point to when hitters must react in order to get their swing off. For the evening, Abbott struck out the side four times and retired the final 12 batters he faced before being lifted after 105 pitches. Finishing with 16 strikeouts, he ran his season total to 115, which is third overall in NCAA D1 behind Jack Leiter (119) and Kumar Rocker (118). Abbott performed brilliantly under the watchful eye of many high ranking baseball executives and national level scouts. In my experience, uber-athletic lefties with repeatable deliveries, clean arm actions, low-90 fastballs, plus curveballs, control of a three-pitch arsenal, and big strikeout totals are attractive commodities to the baseball draft. The bet he placed on himself by turning down significant overtures from pro clubs in last year’s draft looks like it has paid off. Despite his age (22 on draft day), seven figure bonus offers are now likely staring at him come this July 10 after he proved that he’s better than what the draft thought of him last year. He did finish No. 97 overall on the 2020 Prep Baseball Report / D1 Baseball Draft Board, but has now exceeded that 3rd round equivalent ranking. For me, he is now a better starting pitcher prospect than many of the top 2020 college draft southpaws, including Jared Shuster (1st round, Braves), Burl Carraway (2nd round, Cubs), Logan Allen (2nd round, Indians), Ian Seymour (2nd round, Rays) and Nick Swiney (2nd round, Giants).

Although undrafted in 2020, the Cavalier reliever has performed at a high level ever since setting foot on the UVA campus. His career numbers before 2020 included 137 strikeouts in 95 IP, and he managed to exceed that K rate with 28 punchouts in just 13.1 IP in 2020. Abbott is a slender bodied, 6-foot, 175-pound loose armed lefty with a high three-quarter release point. He shows good arm speed, that is especially quick out front. His best pitch is an upper-70s power breaking ball with good depth. It’s his swing/miss weapon that garners most of his KOs. His fastball will range from 91-95 mph with above average life and control. He will also mix in an occasional 82-83 mph changeup. Abbott was on the radar as a top five round prospect entering to the 2020 season but went undrafted thanks to a rumored high asking price. With a strong resum that also includes success in the Cape and with the USA CNT, Abbott will likely be among the top left-handed relievers chosen next June, and he has the weapons to move quickly through a minor league system.

2020 DRAFT:The Cavalier reliever has performed at a high level ever since setting foot on the UVA campus. His career numbers before 2020 included 137 strikeouts in 95 IP, and he managed to exceed that K rate with 28 punchouts in just 13.1 IP in 2020. Abbott is a slender bodied, 6-foot, 175-pound loose armed lefty with a high three-quarter release point. He shows good arm speed, that is especially quick out front. His best pitch is an upper-70s power breaking ball with good depth. It's his swing/miss weapon that garners most of his KOs. His fastball will range from 91-95 mph with above average life and control. He will also mix in an occasional 82-83 mph changeup. Abbott was on the radar as a top five round prospect previous to the 2020 season and has done nothing to lessen that value. With a strong resume that also includes success in the Cape and with the USA CNT, Abbott will be among the top left-handed relievers chosen this summer and he has the weapons to move quickly through a minor league system.

6/30/19:Six-foot, 180 pound lefty with a fastball up to 93 mph and a 74-77 mph curveball. Abbott made quick work in his CNT trial debut throwing just ten pitches in one inning of work. He inherited the international tiebreaker situation of runners on 1st and 2nd base with no outs. He induced a popup on a bunt and then easily punched out the last two batters for a three up, three down inning. Aftercatching our eye in the Cape last summerand a solid sophomore year at Virginia (2-3, 3.89 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 44 IP) Abbott is on the radar as a top five round prospect for 2020. He reminds me of Chris Murphy, a recent 6th round pick by Boston out of the University of San Diego this past June. (Seifert)

8/15/18:Slender bodied, loose armed lefty with high three-quarter release point. Worked from the third base side of rubber, landed slightly closed and in-line to the plate. Good arm speed, especially quick out front. Early in the game his fastball ranged from 87-90 mph with below average life and lacked deception. Must be fine with his location. Worked in the 86-87 mph range in the fourth and fifth innings. Flashed an average 73-74 mph curveball with 1/7 rotation. Occasionally varied the shape to a more slider-like 2/8 break and velocity into the upper-70s. Mixed in a BP fastball at 82-83 serving as his changeup. Made five starts, posted a 1.74 ERA in 20.2 IP with 13 strikeouts. (Seifert)

A 5-foot-11, 155-pound Virginia recruit, is a strike-pumping machine. He opened the game with 10 straight strikes and continued to pinpoint his 85-87 mph fastball and shuffle in his 70-mph breaking ball consistently to keep hitters off balance. Abbott works slightly across his body from a 3/4 slot, providing some deception to his delivery. Abbott pitched 6.1 innings, yielding five hits and one run while striking out eight and walking none. He threw 71 of his 102 pitches for strikes.

The best performance of the first day was undoubtedly produced by LHP Andrew Abbott (Halifax County HS, VA). The Virginia recruit started for the Canes against SACSN, the second game of the day, and went four innings. He allowed just one run on two hits, didn’t walk anybody and struck out nine. He was in command early, pounding the strike zone and consistently hitting his spots. Abbott has a slight frame at 6 feet, 155 pounds and lands closed, pitching across his body, while sitting 84-86 mph with his fastball. He spins a good curveball, which ranged from 68-73 as he went used it for swings and misses as well as a get-me-over pitch. It has 2/8 shape. He threw just one changeup, but it was a good one with fade at 76.

Lanky lefty that throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a drop and drive delivery. His arm action is short and quick, throwing with normal effort. Shoulders are closed and slightly downhill, closed landing with a fall off finish, classic lefty crossfire. Hides ball well, lots of deception, fastball has good angle and slight run, sitting 85-86 early, touching 87, before settling in to 83-85 late in the game. Big, sharp 1/7 curveball running 67-71. Showed that ability to move both pitches in and out, up and down.

Abbott is a lanky lefty that throws from a high three-quarters slot with a slight drop and drive delivery. His shoulders are closed and level and he lands closed, leading to a classic lefty crossfire delivery that hides the ball well. His arm action is short, free, and very quick. His fastball has good plane and some sink and touched 84 in the first inning before settling into 80-83 for the duration of his nine innings. Abbott threw a great power 1-7 curveball that ran 67-71. He demonstrated great command of both pitches, moving them in and out and pounding the strike zone. He was especially good at backfooting his curveball to righties for strikeouts. Abbot also is a very athletic defender, making a tough play on a push bunt, including a lunging glove flip to first base.